Silverton: Claims On The Heart (6 page)

He extended a small bag of her favorite treat.

As a little girl the most exciting thing in the world was to go to Papa's store. Besides the wonder of a whole store of food and household goods to see there was the thrill of the candy counter. Kathleen would hang in front of it admiring the gumdrops and toffee. Yet when she was allowed to choose a single treat it was always a peppermint drop.

Occasionally, Papa would come home with a small bag hidden in his pocket as he did today and Kathleen would hoard the contents for days.

She popped a candy into her mouth. “You'll spoil me.”

“I doubt it. A little bag of candy hardly makes up for all the work you've done since we got here.”

“You've worked just as hard, harder today. Sit down and have a cup of coffee while I finish up supper. It's almost ready.”

Papa sank into a wood-backed chair.

“Was Vic any help this afternoon?” she asked.

“He came back grumbling about bossy women, but he was sober enough to lend me a hand.”

“Bossy, am I?” Kathleen told him of her encounter with Vic.

Papa grinned. “I don't suppose he's used to having a woman tell him what to do. He'd be a heap better off if he'd take your advice.”

“Somehow, I doubt he will.” She dished out their supper.

When they finished, he cleared the table as she washed the dishes.

“Let's take our chairs and sit outside until it gets too cold,” Papa suggested. “I'd like to have a smoke.”

Their house sat on a side street away from the bustle of town. But it would be nice to make the acquaintance of anyone walking past on an evening stroll. They dragged their chairs to the dusty ground that served as a front yard.

Papa took out his pipe and tamped in the tobacco. He was content to bask in the quiet. They had no neighbors, and there was no one out and about. Most of the miners had gone back to their boarding houses. Collin would be tucked away in his room resting before the next day of work.

Dusk was falling and people passed further down the block.

Collin's familiar figure was striding down her street and for a moment she thought it was her imagination. But he was real and just as handsome as he had been earlier in the day.

She caught her breath wondering if it was only circumstance that brought him past or had he come to see her? She smoothed the chestnut curls that insisted on collecting about her face. Would he continue in her direction? Kathleen rose to greet him as he strode into their yard.

Papa exhaled a puff from his pipe. “And who is this young man?'

Kathleen leaned down and whispered back. “I met him Saturday at the store. His name is Collin McAllister.”

Papa frowned. “I see.”

Collin came into their dusty yard. “Collin McAllister,” Collin said as he offered Papa his hand. “Pleased to meet you, sir.”

“Likewise. What keeps you in Silverton?”

“Mining.”

“How did you know where I live?” Kathleen asked.

Collin grinned, showing even white teeth. “This is a small town. There aren't many secrets.” He noted her raised brow. “I stopped by the store and asked Vic.”

“At least he wasn't out drinking,” Kathleen murmured.

“He was just leaving when I got there.”

Kathleen sighed. “If he would eat instead of drink he wouldn't be so thin.”

“That's true,” Collin admitted. “I'm afraid whiskey fills a lot of lonely hours for these men.”

“And you, Collin, are you a drinking man?” Papa asked.

“I've been known to enjoy an occasional ale.”

“Give me a fine wine instead.”

“I don't know how you stand either.” Kathleen wrinkled her nose. “I know I'm not very refined, but I'd prefer a glass of sweet lemonade.”

The men broke off their debate as Papa looked directly at Collin. “As you can tell, my daughter is a sweet, unworldly girl.”

“I suppose that's the reason I respect her so much. And I enjoy her company. That's why I came to see if she'd like to take a short walk.”

“I would enjoy another walk. Let's go before it gets too chilly.”

Her father's gaze lingered as they started down from 10
th
Street towards Snowden.

Kathleen looked back and gave him a little wave. Farther down she paused in front of the Wingate house. “Don't you think it's pretty? It reminds me of my house in St. Louis only our house wasn't quite as large or impressive. The Wingates must employ a servant or two. I had a friend who had a butler and several maids. I spent the night there often. I used to pretend I was a princess when I stayed with her. You can't imagine how it feels to have someone picking up after you all the time, answering your door, cooking and serving your meals.”

“That must have been a treat for you. When you live in luxury all the time I suppose you come to expect it.”

“I'm sure you're right though my friend was not spoiled in the ways I would have expected. I admired that about her.”

He took her hand. His warm fingers closed around hers exciting her senses. She would have chaffed if Martin had taken this liberty, would have felt that he was telling the men of Silverton that she belonged to him. Yet, with Collin it seemed a tender gesture of intimacy, a bond in which they shut out the world instead of confronting it. She could not fathom why Collin affected her so deeply.

She admired his finely chiseled features. A Roman statue come alive with mischievous green eyes. They moved down Snowden walking past the schoolhouse before turning back on Green Street.

“Isn't it terribly expensive to stay in town?”

“It costs a little more, but the comfort was worth the extra money. I'm still able to save by being careful with my expenses. The disadvantage is having to get up extra early each morning to get to work.”

She gave his fingers a gentle squeeze. “I'm glad you're here in town.” She felt vindicated in her assessment of him. He could afford to stay in town because he didn't spend his money on vices. She admired the way he was pulling himself up from meager circumstances seeking to make something of himself.

Collin released her hand as they approached her house.

Papa had already gone inside taking the chairs with him.

Kathleen lingered with Collin reluctant to leave him.

“It seems a long time until our picnic on Sunday,” he said softly.

Inwardly Kathleen agreed. “I'll spend the week planning our menu.”

Collin brightened. “I'll have time on the weekends to do some hunting. I could bring you some fresh meat to store over the winter.”

“I'd like that. I'm sure Papa would appreciate it, too.”

Papa opened the front door to peer out. “Don't catch cold, Kathleen.”

Collin doffed his hat. “I'll see you Sunday. We'll hike along Mineral Creek.” His square shoulders disappeared into the gathering twilight.

Papa held the door open for her to pass inside. “I was worried that you might catch a chill.”

“It's just now beginning to get cold.”

Papa tugged on his graying whiskers. “How well do you know this young man?”

“We talked at the church picnic today. We're going on another picnic and a hike along a creek next Sunday.”

Papa tugged harder. “By yourselves?”

Kathleen had not really thought about propriety when she had agreed to their plans.

“He may seem like a decent sort, but you can't possibly know him very well. If you're determined to do this I think I should go along. I won't get in the way. I've heard there's good fishing in these parts. Since you're hiking the creek I wouldn't mind trying my hand at it. Then I could be out there close by in case you need me.”

Kathleen sighed. To be alone with Collin was the goal. She'd never resented Papa's protectiveness. And now that she was all that he had left in the world she could not bear to worry him. “I'm sure Collin won't mind if you fish the creek while we hike. You can join us for the picnic.”

“That would make me feel better.”

Kathleen set to work finishing the stuffed mattress covers.

Would Papa have been so worried if Martin had invited her to go on a hike?

 

 

 

 

 

5

 

Collin reached the far end of Green Street just as two shadowy figures stepped from behind a bushy pine and directly into his path. He tried to make out their faces.

The burlier of the two was a great, bear-like man who sported thick black whiskers. He spoke for the pair. “We come to give you a warning. That girl is not for the likes of you.” He poked Collin in the chest. “You're a fool strutting yourself ‘round town with her like you was somebody. I've come to warn you that it had better stop.”

Collin glared from one whiskered face to the other. “Who sent you to give this warning?”

The smaller man spit a wad of tobacco. “Don't concern yourself with that. Just remember what we told you and you won't get hurt.”

Collin's heart thudded, his blood ran hot with anger. “I know who sent you. You don't have to tell me. And you can tell that coward, Long, that if he has anything to say to me he can say it himself.” He shoved roughly past the men.

They didn't try to stop him, but the larger man called after him. “I told my friend, Willy, that you weren't smart enough to listen. Looks like I was right.”

“You and Willy can mind your own business and stay out of mine.” Collin spoke loud so they'd hear. Clenching his fists he stormed up the stairs to his room.

Martin Long had sent henchmen to warn him. The man had expressed an interest in Kathleen equal to Collin's own. And wasn't it like Martin to hire his dirty work done in the dark paths and alleys of Silverton? The last man who had crossed Long had ended up suspiciously dead. Several others had been run out of town. But no one did anything because there was no proof.

Well he was one man who would not be scared away. He opened his dresser to run his fingers along the cold butt of the ivory-handled pistol. He knew how to use it if Long was foolish enough to challenge him. And if he was taken by surprise he knew how to use his fists. His father had taken great pains to make sure he didn't raise a weakling.

His grandfather had grown up swinging as he forged his way towards his fortune. Consequently, Collin's father had such great respect for self-defense that he made sure his son followed the time-honored tradition and learned to fight when he was still a young boy. The knowledge had served him well. In his previous fast and loose lifestyle on more than one occasion drawing on his skill had saved his sorry hide from much larger men he'd knocked cold.

Collin sank onto the bed and pulled off his boots. He wasn't afraid of Long, only annoyed by the power that money bought the man. Long was most probably capable of arranging for a bullet in his back.

He lit candles and locked his door. Lying back on his bed he took a rumpled letter from his bureau and scanned the small, tight writing that his father had penned: “I was glad for your letter saying you've settled in and are making your own living. Even better that you are saving what you earn. If you can break your bad habits there may be hope for you yet. As you know, your inheritance hangs on your success.”

How long would it take for his father to understand that he was a changed man? He crumpled the paper and tossed it away hardly caring anymore about the answer to his question.

When he had first arrived he had desperately missed the amusements and luxury of his former lifestyle. But as the days turned to weeks he found a certain pride in providing for himself by the work of his own hands.

And now that he was out of the circle of his gambling and drinking friends he had ceased to long for smoke-filled nights spent whiling away his cash. What had once seemed necessary to his existence did not intrigue him anymore. Perhaps there was more of his grandfather in him than he had ever realized.

Blue eyes and creamy skin drifted into his mind's eye. Though he'd not intended to seek Kathleen out that evening he'd found himself restless and hungry for her company. How easily she could become an addiction. And unlike the unwholesome addictions of his former life he had the feeling this one would be much harder to get rid of should the need arise.

 



 

Kathleen tidied the house on Monday morning before she joined Papa at the store. A steady flow of female customers kept them busy. When Kathleen remarked that she'd met most of them at the church picnic, Papa grinned. “I encourage your church going. I believe it's increasing our sales.”

“Next Sunday it's your turn to get to know the church men,” she teased in return.

“I'll look forward to it. In fact, I'll go to the next picnic if Vic is in any condition to run the store.”

Vic had not returned from his errand of delivering half a dozen jars of jelly to the hotel. Kathleen had protested when Papa allowed him to go. The morning whisky tremble had not even left his hands. She was sure he would drop the entire batch.

“He kept things going until we got here.” Papa gently reproved her. “We owe him the courtesy of our trust. Unreliable as he is there are times when we need his help.”

Vic had returned.

Kathleen walked home at noon to warm up their stew. Papa would be along shortly to join her. The day was sunny with a cerulean sky unmarred by a single cloud. The mild, pine-scented breeze wafted here and there. Its warmth made her forget the chill that greeted her when she'd crept out of bed. It amazed her that so cold a morning could give way to an afternoon soaked in the heat.

She had intended to take the route down Green Street straight to her house. As she reached the corner where she could turn onto Blair she was gripped with a morbid curiosity too strong to resist. What did Blair Street, that notorious thoroughfare that she had been so vigorously warned to avoid, look like? Would a close look reveal a squalid shantytown or were they well-kept, in spite of their uses?